Sculling machine



Aug, 12, 1924. 1,504,375

H. PHILLIPS SCULLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10 1 2 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W WM? A AWQAD.

llfatented fi ing, ll, 12%..

HARRY PHILLIPS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T DENTAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SCULLING MACHINE.

Application filed November 10', 1922. Serial No. 600,141.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY PHILLIPS, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 208 Norbury Crescent, Norbury, London, S. W., England, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Sculling Machines (on which application has been made for Let ters Patent in Great Britain No. 12,535, filed the 3rd May, 1922), of which the following is a. specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in sculling machines.

From time to time sculling machines have i5 been introduced for the purpose of training oarsmen. None of these machines have proved satisfactory for the purpose for which they are designed; in no case has it been possible hitherto to design a sculling machine which reproduces the actual conditions found in actual sculling. The pressure upon water of the scull blade should be the same at the beginning as at the end of the stroke. Again the scull members have hitherto been anchored so that it is impossible for the oarsmen to drop their hands at the end of the stroke as must occur under natural conditions.

The present invention is designed to provide a machine in which there is an even resistance throughout the stroke, in which this resistance is adjustable in which the Outriggers are carried on a sliding frame which carries a seat sliding thereon, and in which the scull ends slide in rings pivot ally mounted on vertically movable memhere.

In the drawings accompanying this specificati0n I Figure 1 shows a side view.

Figure 2 shows a plan view, and

Figure 3 shows a front view of the complete machine.

Figuresd and 5 show sectional views of the oil dash-pot.

Figure 6 shows the piston and sliding plug, which normally closes the end of the piston, but is here shown open as during the return stroke of the sculls. Figure 7 shows in section and in outside elevation the columns forming the fixed points to which are pivotally attached the ends of the sculls.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, 1 is the sliding frame carrying the seat 2 which can slide on runners 3. At the other end of the frame is the foortboard 4 which is adapted to be moved backward or forward so that it may be adjusted to suit the height of the user of the machine. To the sides of the frame 1 are fixed the Outriggers 5, adapted to receive the sculls 6 in pivoted rings ,7 as is usual on a boat. Mounted in the bottom of the frame 1 are grooved wheels 8. These wheels run on a rail 9 attached to the base 10 of the machine, thus allowing the frame to slide easily backwards and forwards. The base 10is conveniently in the form of a cross as shown so that the various parts of the machine may be conveniently mounted. Into the bottom of the movable frame 1 the oil cylinder 11 is fixed so that it moves backwards and forwards with said frame 1. The piston rod 12 is hollow and is fixed by means of a bracket 13 to the front of the base 10 that is behind the user.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, the piston rod 12 enters the oil cylinder through a packed gland 14 of usual construction. The other end 40 of the oil cylinder is closed. The piston 15 is in the form of a sleeve and the inner end is closed by a plug 16. This plug is arranged to slide so that on the return stroke it leaves the piston end open and allows free passage for the oil. In the piston Y wall a convenient number of slots 17 are arranged through which the oil can pass on the return stroke. The piston is mounted on the rod 12 and is attached by pins 188 as shown, or it may be screwed on or otherwise firmly fastened. Inside the hollow piston rod 12 is another rod 18. This is made a good fit in the piston rod 12 so that it may be turned if desired, but so that there can be no oil leakage between the two rods. The end of this rod has flats or grooves formed on it and the plug 16 has a hole of corresponding shape in its centre, so that the plug 16 is guided centrally by the rod 18. A shoulder 19 formed on the end of the rod 18 takes the thrust of a light spring 20 which is provided to ensure the plug 16 returning to its seating in the piston end, on the completion of the return stroke. The rod 18 is conveniently concentrically drilled with an oil passage 21. This communicates with the oil cylinder 11 beyond the inner end of the piston by means of a convenient number of parts 22, At the other end of the passage 21, a passage 23 is cut through the side of the rod 18 so that it can register with-a :port :24 in the lSldG of the outer end of the piston. Byturning the rod 18 inside the piston rod 12 the port 2d and passage 23 may be brought more or less into register and a layer or smaller channel formed for the oil. Theactual total range of rotation of the rod 18 is limited from fully open to fully-closed by means of a radial screw or pin 25 .(shovvn in dotted lineson iFigure in the rod '18, working 'inla "slot 26 in the piston. 6n the forward stroke the inner end lot the piston is closed by thezplug =16andiskeptclosed more firm-- 1y 'by'ith e oil pressure. The oil therefore passes the piston through the ports 22, the passages 21and Q3'and 'the portsQ l. This forms a channelo'f constant high resistance to theoil, "the iactual resistance of which can be fvaried by rotating the rod 18 to vary the -eiiective passage bet-ween the 'passages?) and the port 24' asalready described. Gn the'return"stroke, thesame passage is opento-the oi'l, but in addition the oilpasses through "the slots 17in the piston and as soon-astheoil pressure rises sufficiently to overcnme the jpressure of the light spring QOQtheEp lug -16 "rises from its seating and the oil flows freely through the inner end of the piston. Buffer springs '27 and 28 are provided "at iootlrentls of the oil cylinder so as to ave-id the shock of a sudden stoppage shorilfd the *s trke be carried too far. vA cup with a suitable screwed stopper is provided for filling the "oil cylinder with oil.

\ 'Re'ferring-now to Figure :7 the fixed fulcrum points 'consist of a vertical hollow column 30 "which is rigidly rafiixed 'to the base 10, 'an' inn'er column '81 slidaloly arranged *and *fittinginsid'e the column .80, and b'all 32, pivoted on a horizontal between trunnions formed'at the upper end (ifthe-"column l. The ball hasa horizontal hole- 33firiliedthro-ugh it perpendicular to the "axis on =vvhichit is pivoted. In this hole the metal end of the scull fits and slides. The ball 32 is 'fitted avith an oil cup, 34 for lubricating the scull end and through suitable passages z'the trunnion bearings-and thecolumn '31. The column 3.1 isprevented from rising right out of the column 30 byineans of screw '35, the point of which works. in ansannular groove 36 "turned in column 31. The column is thus free to turn onto -rise vertically till the shoulder formed by the lower end of the-annular groovecomes into contact with the screw'i35. Owing to the combined pivot ing andslidingaction of thecolunmsit is obvious that :the'soulls are constrained to act about thevertical aXis of the columns as ful'crums, but 'are free to rise and fall ton 37 to prevent the scull from sliding through the pivoted rings 1. In placeof blades, however, they are provided with metal rods 38, which fit, yet slide freely in,

the holes 33 in the ball tops 32 of the columns. It will be seen therefore that the whole arrangement of the sculls allows of their being used exactly as they are used in sculling'a boat. The whole machine may be fixed tothe floor or it may be kept steady by its own weight, and attached to a wall or vertical post through a shock absorbing spring 39.

What I claim is 1. A sculling machine comprising a base, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a footboard, and outriggerscarried in said frame, a seat-slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the forward movement of the latter, scull members pivoted on the outriggers, the outer ends of the soul]. members sliding in fulcrum members attached to th'ebase, and means whereby said fulcrum members are adapted to move vertically and rotate about vertical and horizontal axes.

'2. A sculling machine comprising a base. a frame slidably mounted thereon, a footboard and Outriggers carried in said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the forward movement of the latter, scull members pivoted on the outriggers, the outer ends of the scull members sliding in fulcrum members attached to the base, and means whereby said fulcrum members are adapted to move vertically and rotate about vertical and horizontal axes in combination with a dash-pot producing a constant resistance on the forward stroke and allowing afree return stroke.

A sculling machine comprising a base, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a footboard and Outriggers carried in said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so asto move along said frame during the for ward movement of the latter, scull members pivoted on the Outriggers, the outer ends of the scull members sliding in fulcrum membersattached to the base, and means whereby said fulcrum'members are adapted to move vertically and rotate about vertical and horizontal axes in combination with a dash-p0t producing a constant resistance on the forward stroke and allowing a free return stroke and means for adjusting the resistanceproduced by the dash-pot.

4;. A sculling machine comprising a base, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a footboard and outriggers carried on said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the forward movement of the latter, scull members pivoted on the outriggers and at fixed fulcrum points on the base and an oil cylinder rigidly fixed to the sliding frame, a pistcn within said oil cylinder attached to the base and means whereby the oil can pass the piston through a small constant passage on the forward stroke, and freely through a large passage on the return stroke.

5. A sculling machine comprising a base, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a footboard and Outriggers carried on said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the forward movement of the latter, scull members pivoted on the Outriggers and at fixed fulcrum points on the base, an oil cylinder rigidly fixed to the sliding frame, a piston Within said oil cylinder attached to the base, and means whereby the oil can pass the piston through a small constant passage, on the forward stroke, means for adjusting the said passage and means whereby the oil can pass the piston freely through a large passage on the return stroke.

6. A sculling machine comprising a base, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a footboard and Outriggers carried on said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the forward movement of. the latter, scull members pivoted on the Outriggers, the outer ends of the scull members sliding in fulcrum n1embers attached to the base and means whereby said fulcrum members are adapted to move vertically and rotate about vertical and horizontal axes, in combination with an oil cylinder rigidly fixed to the sliding frame, a piston within said oil cylinder attached to the base and means whereby the oil can pass the piston through a small constant passage on the forward stroke and freely through a large passage on the return stroke.

7 A sculling machine comprising a base, a frame slidably moimted thereon, a footboard and Outriggers carried on said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the forward movement of the latter, scull members pivoted on the Outriggers, the outer ends of the scull members sliding in fulcrum members attached to the base, and means whereby saidfulcrum members are adapted to move vertically and rotate about vertical and horizontal axes, in combination with an oil cylinder rigidly fixed to the sliding frame, a piston within said oil cylinder attached to the base, means whereby the oil can pass the piston through a small constant pas a e on the forward stroke, means for ad usting the said passage and means whereby the oil can pass the piston freely through a large passage on the return stroke,

8. A sculling machine comprising a base, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a footboard and Outriggers carried on said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the forwart movement of the latter, scull members pivoted on said frame, the outer ends of the sculls sliding in fulcrum members attached to the base, and means whereby said fulcrum members are adapted to move vertically and rotate about vertical and horizontal axes, in combination with an oil cylinder rigidly fixed to the sliding frame, the cylinder being closed at one end and provided with a packed gland and an oil filling cup and stopper at the other, containing buffer springs at both ends, a piston rod attached to the base at one end, passing through the packed gland, carrying a sleeve like piston with slotted sides at the other end, said pis ton working in the oil cylinder, the piston head being formed as a plug slidably mounted on a guide rod and pressed against the piston by a spring, the plug being adapted to act as a non-return valve to allow the oil to pass it on the return stroke, the guide rod having an oil passage in it, connecting with oil ports beyond the piston head and with a passage through the side of the piston at the opposite end of the piston communicating with the interior of the cylinder,

9. A sculling machine comprising a base, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a foot board and outriggers carried on said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the for ward movement of the latter, scull members pivoted on the Outriggers, the outer ends of the scull members sliding in fulcrum members attached to the base, and means whereby said fulcrum members are adapted to move vertically and rotate about vertical and horizontal axes, in combination with an 1 oil cylinder rigidly fixed to the sliding frame, the cylinder being closed at one end and provided with a packed gland, an oil filling cup and stopper at the other, containing buffer springs at both ends, a hollow piston rod attached to the base at one end, passing through the packed gland, carrying a sleeve like piston with slotted sides at the other end, said piston working in the oil cylinder, the piston head being formed as a plug slidably mounted on a guide rod and pressed against the piston by a spring, the plug being adapted to act as a non-return valve to allow the oil to pass it on the return stroke, the guide rod having an oil passage in it connecting with oil ports beyond the piston head and with a passage through the side of the piston at the opposite end of the piston, communicating with the interior of the oil cylinder, the guide rod being extended back through and beyond the hollow piston rod so as to be rotatable within the piston rod, the rotation thereof adjusting the size of the oil passage through the side of the piston.

10. A sculling machine comprising a base, a frame slid-ably mounted thereon, a foot board and outriggers carried on said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the for- Ward movement of the latter, said seull members having their outer ends in the form of metal rods sliding in balls pivoted in trunnion bearings formed in the upper ends of vertical columns capable of vertical movement and rotation about vertical axis inside hollow columns forming the iii-red fulcrum members for the outer ends of seull members, said hollow columns rigidly fixed to the base, and provided with lubricators and oil passages, in combination with an oil cylinder rigidly fixed to the sliding frame, the cylinder being closed at one end and provided with a packed gland and an oil filling vcup and stopper at the other containing buffer springs at both ends, a piston rod attached to the base at one end, passing through the packed gland, carrying a sleeve like piston with slotted sides at the other end, said piston working in the oil cylinder the piston head.- being formed a plug slidably mounted on a guide rod and pressed against the piston by a spring, the plug being adapted to act as a non-return valve to allow the oil to pass it on the return stroke, the guide rod having an oil passage in it, connecting withoil ports beyond the'pis'ton head and with a passage through the side of the piston at the opposite end of the piston communicating with the interior of the oil cylinder.

I1. Ascul'ling machine comprising a base, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a footmosses board and outriggers carried on said frame, a seat slidably mounted on said frame so as to move along said frame during the forward movement of the latter, scull members pivoted on the oi-itriggers, said seull members having their outer ends in the form of metal rods sliding on balls pivoted in trunnion bearings formed in the upper ends of vertical eol-ui-nns capable of vertical movement and rotation about a vertical axis inside hollow columns forming the fixed fulcrum members for the outer ends of the seull members, said hollow columns rigidly fined to the base, and provided with lub'rieators and oil p ages, in combinatioi'i with an oil cylinder rigidly fixed to the sliding frau'ie the cylinder being closed at one end and provided with a packed gland, an oil filling cup and stopper at the other, containing butter springs at both ends, a hollow piston rod attached to the base at one end, passing through the packed gland, carrying a sleeve like piston with slotted sides at the other end, said piston working in the oil cylinder, the piston head being formed as a plug s-lidably mounted on a guide rod and pressed against the piston by a spring, the plug being adapted to act as an non-return valve to allow the oil to pass it on the return stroke, the guide rod having an oil passage in it, conneeting with oil ports beyond the piston head and with a passage through the side of the piston at the opposite end of the piston, communicating with the interior of the oilcylinder, the guide rod being extended back through and beyond the hollow piston rod so as to be rotatab'le Within the piston rod, the rotation thereof adjusting the size of the oil passage through the side of the piston.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

H. PHILLIPS. 

